neon-sprawl/docs/manual-qa/NEO-97.md

NEO-97 — Manual QA checklist

Field	Value
Key	NEO-97
Title	E5M2-11: Client telegraph HUD + NPC archetype markers
Linear	https://linear.app/neon-sprawl/issue/NEO-97/e5m2-11-client-telegraph-hud-npc-archetype-markers
Plan	docs/plans/NEO-97-implementation-plan.md

1) Server

• Start server: cd server/NeonSprawl.Server && dotnet run.
• curl -s http://localhost:5253/health returns JSON with status: ok.
• Optional reset between runs (Development host): curl -sS -X POST http://localhost:5253/game/__dev/combat-targets-fixture -H 'Content-Type: application/json' -d '{"schemaVersion":1}' returns 200 when the dev fixture route is enabled.

2) Client — NPC markers + tab cycle

• Open Godot main scene with server running; after hotbar sync, slot 0 auto-binds to prototype_pulse when empty.
• Three NPC markers near spawn: Elite (gold, origin), Melee (orange, west), Ranged (purple, south-east); each has a lock ring.
• Tab cycles locks in order prototype_npc_elite → prototype_npc_melee → prototype_npc_ranged → wrap; locked marker brightens.
• TargetLockLabel shows server-acknowledged lock id + validity (no optimistic lock).

3) Client — telegraph HUD + player HP

• Walk to Elite marker (origin); Tab until prototype_npc_elite is locked with Validity: ok.
• Press 1 (damaging cast): CastFeedbackLabel shows damage; NpcStateLabel eventually shows NPC state: Elite → aggro (after ~1 Hz poll).
• PlayerCombatHpLabel shows Player HP: 100/100 once combat poll starts (lock or aggro).
• Wait ≥ 5 s while staying in range (elite attack cooldown): NpcStateLabel shows telegraph_windup; TelegraphLabel shows countdown (e.g. Telegraph: Elite prototype_elite_slam · 2.x s (elite)) ticking down between polls.
• Wait for windup to complete (≥ 2.5 s after telegraph appears, ≥ 7.5 s total from first damaging cast): PlayerCombatHpLabel drops to 75/100 (elite 25 damage).
• Telegraph countdown at poll boundaries matches server within one poll frame (~1 s); local tick-down is smooth between polls.

4) Incoming threat row

• With elite aggro on you, Tab lock to Melee (different NPC): NpcStateLabel shows both NPC state: Melee → … and Incoming: Elite → … when elite still holds aggro.
• TelegraphLabel prefers locked NPC telegraph; when locked NPC has no telegraph, shows incoming elite telegraph during windup.

5) Regression

• CombatTargetHpLabel still updates on cast + lock change (NEO-85).
• Cast without lock still shows ability_cast_denied: invalid_target (NEO-28).
• Cooldown HUD still refreshes after accepted casts (NEO-32).